We are enthusiastic supporters of walking pilgrimage. However long or short the distance, a walk with an intention or purpose offers an opportunity to leave behind the clutter of everyday life and to discover refreshment and spiritual renewal whatever the destination and whether or not you have a religious affiliation.
Of course historically most medieval and later pilgrims had little choice but to travel to Walsingham on foot, and their return journeys were an equal, and equally hazardous, part of their travel. If you arrive on foot today, you can summon a taxi or take the bus for your return trip.
It is helpful to remember that pilgrims would have arrived in the village from all points of the compass, so you can start your walk to Walsingham anywhere and come into Walsingham from all directions, as Walsingham lies on a crossroads. Old roads and byways are still visible as well as modern roads linking the village to the nearby local ports such as Wells, Cley or Blakeney, as well as those further afield such as King’s Lynn or Great Yarmouth.
Pilgrim Way between Walsingham and the Slipper Chapel
An easy and lovely pilgrim walk is to follow the permissive path on the former railway line which runs between Little Walsingham and Houghton St Giles (or vice versa). Along the way you can visit St Seraphim’s Orthodox chapel in the old railway station, and the Roman Catholic shrine at the Slipper Chapel. In spring especially, the former railway embankments are carpeted with wildflowers.
This one mile Pilgrim Way is traffic free (except for occasional farm vehicles), smooth and accessible for cycles, pushchairs, wheelchairs and scooters.
Walking to Walsingham
Of course, like a medieval pilgrim you could simply leave your home and set off to Walsingham. However most of us need a bit of guidance.
The Walsingham Way is a community and ecumenical partnership enabled by Norwich Cathedral, part of their contribution to the European Green Pilgrimage Network. The heart of the project is a safe-to-walk pilgrim path – mostly on green lanes and footpaths – from Norwich to Walsingham – which was waymarked in the spring of 2021.
A 29-mile King’s Lynn Walsingham Way is currently being tested. The walk begins at King’s Lynn Minster, in the heart of historic King’s Lynn. More here
The British Pilgrimage Trust website is a brilliant source of information.
Travel writer and pilgrim Andy Bull has written a pilgrimage guide to a route from London, ‘The Walsingham Camino’. A walking pilgrimage to Walsingham can be put towards your ‘compostela’ for the Camino di Santiago, with places on the way to stamp your pilgrim booklet, including here in Walsingham at the Abbey and both shrines. More on this from the Confraternity of St James in the UK.